Hey everyone! To celebrate autumn, here’s a list of words that remind of one of the most beautiful times of the year— the season of pumpkin spice lattes, of falling, crunching leaves, of cozy jackets and cold cheeks, and of looking out the window at the stunning, rainy world outside. (Can you tell how much I like autumn? 😛 Although, of course, all of the seasons are great in their own way!)

+ Foliage

noun

plants leaves, collectively; leafage

+ Hearth

noun

the floor or area in front of a fireplace

+ Quaint

adjective

charmingly old-fashioned

attractively unusual

+ Ember

noun

a small piece of burning or glowing coal or wood in a dying fire.

+ Caramel

noun

sugar that has been heated into a smooth, chewy dark- to light-brown paste.

+ Crisp

adjective

(describing the weather, not the snack) fresh, cool, invigorating.

+ Psithurism

noun

the sound of wind rustling leaves.

+ Ablaze

adjective

burning fiercely.

bright and colourful.

+ Laurel

noun

any shrubs and other plants with dark green glossy leaves (such as the bay tree or mountain laurel).

the leaves from a laurel woven into a wreath worn on the head as an symbol honour or victory in olden times

❤ Yasimone

P.S.- Use the word “psithurism” around your friends and leave them bewildered at your amazing vocabulary skills. 😉

P.P.S.- How fun is that to say? It actually sounds like what it means!

P.P.P.S.- Okay, so I just looked that up and apparently words that sound like what they mean are called onomatopoeia (which I already knew) or echomimetics (which I didn’t know).

P.P.P.P.S.- Ooh, that should be my theme for my next Words to Use More Often post!

Hello again! How’s your week been? It’s started to seem like fall where I live— though the leaves aren’t turning red and orange, the days are starting to shrink little by little and the autumn rains have arrived. 🙂 I love fall, don’t you? I’ll definitely be posting a fall-themed Book Chat in a little while! 😛

You may have noticed that I’ve been really absent for the past couple of weeks. I know that I keep saying this and it’s is a terrible excuse (albeit a true one), but I’ve been so busy lately, and in trying to keep up with all the things that have been going on, I didn’t have the time or determination to post anything. 😦 I’m back for good now, so you can come on over as often as you like and there will be lots more posts in the weeks to come.

Anyway, enough with the ramblings. Here’s the continuation of my Travel Snippet series, in which I arrive in Aegean coast of Turkey and go to a famous local festival.

After arriving in Turkey at the Istanbul Atatürk Airport, I took yet another plane to İzmir. Luckily, this one was only forty-five minutes long. When I finally arrived in the city and place I would be staying at, I collapsed in bed, not even bothering to unpack. The next day, I woke up at 4:00 pm in the afternoon! Travelling sure does exhaust you.

A few days later, I was well-rested and eager to explore. I had already planned to spend the day in Bergama, a city in İzmir which was once the ancient Greek city of Pergamon. There was a famous festival going on, the 79th Annual “Bergama Kermes,” and I had gotten tickets to go to a concert that was part of the festivities that evening!

The view on the way to Bergama. How gorgeous is it?Cucumbers, peppers, beans, and tomatoes at the pazar. Some of the cucumbers were so fresh that they still had flowers on their tips!

I started off my morning with going to the pazar, which is basically a farmer’s market where all the locals get their vegetables fresh from the fields. There were dozens of stalls full of everything that was in season: cucumbers, tomatoes, peaches, corn, squash flowers, peppers, strawberries, okra, and so much more. There were also vendors selling tablecloths, dry goods, clothing, and toys. It was such an interesting atmosphere: the sellers calling out for everyone to check out their produce and see how fresh it is, the people bargaining for a kilo of veggies to cost just a little less, everyone walking about to see who has the freshest strawberries.

Afterwards, I went towards the centre of the town and noticed that there was a folk dance performance going on. Folk dancers from Bergama, other parts of Turkey, Greece, and a few European countries were all showcasing heir talent and their lands’ culture. It was so much fun to watch and clap along. 😀 What I found thought-provoking was how all of the different countries and regions, even, had some dances that were unique to them, while other dances seemed to be universal, like the circle dance— all of the dance troops had at least one moment when they gathered in a circle and danced holding hands.

Greek folk dancers at a Bergama Kermes performance.

Then I wandered around a bit, checking out the shops on the main street and grabbing a bite to eat: a nice warm tost— like a panini, but with melted cheese, sucuk (Turkish pepperoni), and anything else you want in between two buttered, pressed slices of bread. 😛 Yum…

This sign translates to “Bergama- 79th International Bergama Kermes Memory.”

Then I boarded a bus to go up to the Asclepeion where Burcu Güneş, a famous Turkish pop singer, would be performing as part of the Kermes celebrations. The Asclepion ruins are located on the mountain-side of Bergama. They have been well preserved from when Bergama was Pergamon, a great Greek city-state and many ancient Greeks would go to the Asclepion—a healing centre that honours the god Asclepius— to treat their illnesses in state-of-the-art (for back then) healing complexes with saunas, skilled doctors, and special waters. Of course there was an amphitheatre for entertainment in the evening and that was where the concert was being held.

On the way to the amphitheatre.

It was quite interesting being seated in the old amphitheatre where ancient people once sat watching plays long ago; and it truly blew my mind to see how the ruins were in such good condition. It was lovely, cool evening and luckily I had brought a jacket. Everyone excitedly chattered to each other and snacked on some sunflower seeds they had purchased as they waited for the concert to begin.

The stage just before the concert started.

And then the lights lit up and Burcu Güneş strolled onto the stage, singing a song. People cheered loudly and sang along.

It was such a fun concert!Look at those lights!

The concert lasted for about two hours. Burcu Güneş sang some of her own songs, then she switched to covers of other classic songs. Her voice was quite nice— sultry and smooth. Everyone was getting up and dancing, and many people turned on the flash on their phones and waved it around. The ladies sitting next to me even offered to share their snacks with me when they saw I hadn’t brought any for myself. All in all, it was amazing being able to participate in Bergama Kermes, being a part of the locals’ joy and excitement, and watching a great concert— one of the best I’ve ever gone to! 😀

Hello everyone! I’ve been a little absent lately, but it’s been nice to let my blog just sit there for a bit. Anyway, I’m back now with the first Book Chat after a while!

I don’t know if I’ve ever mentioned this before, but I’m a pretty big fan of Rick Riordan. Aren’t we all? 😉 I loved his series Percy Jackson and the Olympians; I loved his series The Heroes of Olympus. However, his final book in The Heroes of Olympus came out last year in October, and we had to bid good-bye to our favorite Greek gang. 😥 (Well, we can reread the books, but it certainly won’t be the same.) However… Rick Riordan will be releasing a NEW book on October 6th, Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Sword of Summer! And this time, it will be about Norse mythology! How cool!

Here’s the official synopsis:

Magnus Chase has always been a troubled kid. Since his mother’s mysterious death, he’s lived alone on the streets of Boston, surviving by his wits, keeping one step ahead of the police and the truant officers. One day, he’s tracked down by an uncle he’s never met-a man his mother claimed was dangerous. His uncle tells him an impossible secret: Magnus is the son of a Norse god. The Viking myths are true. The gods of Asgard are preparing for war. Trolls, giants and worse monsters are stirring for doomsday. To prevent Ragnarok, Magnus must search the Nine Worlds for a weapon that has been lost for thousands of years. When an attack by fire giants forces him to choose between his own safety and the lives of hundreds of innocents, Magnus makes a fatal decision.

Sometimes, the only way to start a new life is to die . . .

A preview of the book that I got at my bookstore!

Doesn’t that sound thrilling? Also, hmm… Does the last name “Chase” seem familiar? 😉

I actually was at my local bookstore a few weeks ago when I noticed that they had a pamphlet with a preview of the book: the first three chapters! I immediately snatched it up and read at least four times. I can assure you that it is just as fast-paced and exciting as the Percy Jackson books!

I can’t wait until it comes out! I’ve always been fascinated with mythology, even before reading Percy Jackson and the Olympians or Heroes of Olympus, and The Sword of Summer will be delving into a whole new world of mythology. Are you anticipating the Magnus Chase books as well? What other books are you waiting for to come out? I’d love some recommendations! 🙂